That's still really impressive. It takes someone really dedicated to do that kind of thing.
[ Yuji gives the compliments freely, and he doesn't think about the emotional impact. He leans back, thumb absently stroking against Raidou's skin as he lets himself think. ]
Curses? Only for a few months. It was after I ate the finger that I learned about that whole world.
[ His hand stills as he realises what he's been doing, and then he huffs a little noise. ]
I bet I sound like an old-timer when I talk about it though, right?
[Raidou knows a lot about magic, even if the only kind he uses is in commanding his demons. There are several kinds back home, but curses is a new one. So it only sounds a little insane. Hearing about how these things work in other worlds is fascinating to him, though.]
But you ate it, and... didn't become a curse. Just gave you the ability to use their magic-- ah, their energy?
[Alright. Makes sense, he supposes. "The more of them I eat", though...]
[ There are definitely people who think he's insane, and he's fine with that. If it means he can help people... ]
That's right. I became his vessel, so normally he's inside me and if I'm not super careful he can take over. He hasn't been around since I was brought here, though.
[ Ah, well. Fushiguro said not to worry too much, but... ]
Oh, I think it's like... Fifteen or something now.
[He looks concerned. So he's possessed? Raidou can exorcise demons, but he's not sure if that can extend to curses. He'll keep that in the back of his mind, though.]
Fifteen? How many fingers does this man have... [Very gnarly.]
[Look who's already starting to feel better. Maybe it's hard to tell when he's pale normally, and quiet, but at least he seems a little more animated.]
Can I ask... Is there a way for someone to do what you do that doesn't involve eating cursed objects? Ah, us summoners, you have to be born with the ability. Not anyone can do it.
[ But he doesn't want to dwell on that, and he shakes his head a little before he focuses. ]
Well, people are born with cursed techniques. Sometimes you might be able to use a cursed object, but having cursed energy makes it better, easier. There was a thing, recently, that 'awoke' other people, but that's not something you'd want to do voluntarily.
Ah, no, I imagine not. [The idea of a bunch of people suddenly becoming summoners and having no idea what they're doing interacting with demons would be a disaster.]
"Cursed energy"... I guess it's similar to us. Mag, we call it. It's what gives people the ability to cast magic. Strange how these things translate from world to world...
[Another thought strikes him.] This world doesn't seem to have demons. While I wish mine had come along with me... maybe it's best they didn't.
[Was that why LILITH didn't? Would it be causing a whole new problem in this world?]
We're going to work it out. Once we've saved our friends, it'll all be fine.
[ Yuji has to cling to that, keep the belief together, because if he doesn't then that might be the end. He can't permit himself to fall apart, not when they're so close. ]
Are they a part of you? Or is it some kind of agreement?
Ah, more like the latter. They usually have to be negotiated with into working with me. Sometimes that means fighting, but not always. From me, they get more energy to use their abilities, meaning they can get stronger, learn more things. In exchange, they help me with all manner of things, not just combat. Most people can't see them, for example.
[So they can get places he can't. Makes investigations a breeze.]
They would be very useful here, but maybe it's not a good idea to introduce demons into a place that doesn't seem to have them.
I don't know. I suppose I could ask, but I'm sure they want to save their resources to bring more people here, rather than something like that.
[He might just need to figure out what life is supposed to be for a summoner who can no longer summon. It's been something on his mind a lot since he arrived. Perhaps considering what happened to him at home right before arriving here, he shouldn't be a summoner anymore anyway...
He sighs lightly at that thought.]
Perhaps I need to figure out a new path for my life. Whatever that might be. Still a defender of people, if nothing else.
[ Yuji hasn't had any limitations since coming here, and has thrown himself into the deep end, so to speak. He would do anything to help people, he knows that, but... Maybe he could be a little more careful in future. ]
That's what I want to do, too. All I ever wanted was to protect people.
[These two have far too much in common, Raidou being the exact same way. Maybe not the best area for anyone to overlap, but so it goes. Raidou's already even got one lecture for pushing himself too hard in a sim of all things, working himself to the point of exhaustion. And from Nanami nonetheless.
Raidou nods in agreement.]
My situation is different, but my goal is not. That's why I did this. If not a summoner... maybe a healer, then.
They put me in school. Third year, so I already graduate in the spring. Ah, LILITH said it was an effort to help get me "caught up". [It sounds embarrassing to say, though. Like being stuck in remedial classes on life. But even back home, Raidou missed a lot of school thanks to his work, and now here he has 350 years of history and life to catch up. Not to mention a whole lot of socialization.]
Other students keep asking me what I plan to do after graduation, and I don't know what to tell them.
For real? Why didn't I get put back into school then...
[ He hasn't done lessons for months, thanks to Shibuya and then the Culling Game... Not that he necessarily wants to go back to learning, but it might be nice to feel normal again. ]
Tell them you're gonna come join me! You can be a firefighter medic or something.
Ah, it's... I don't know what school is like where you're from, but it is very different for mine. But you're probably better off.
[Raidou shakes his head. He really does not like school here. Sitting around all day having lessons blasted right into your implants? No thanks. Thankfully he was almost done.
He also thinks that idea over for a moment, nodding.]
That might not be a bad idea. I hadn't considered it. Ah, back home, my cover for summoner work was as a junior detective. I thought that might be an option, too. Ah, and the people at the shrine told me I'm always welcome there full time...
[That's no easy task though. Who'd have time to study for priesthood when they've got kaiju to fight?]
My school had us training to fight curses, so probably not that dissimilar, huh?
[ If Raidou was supposed to be training to fight with - for? against? - demons then they're not that different, really, are they? Maybe this is why they get along so well.
It seems like he's got a lot of options, though. ]
I'll put in a good word for you if you wanted it, which I don't think we need, if they give us our identities, but... Whatever you want to do sounds like a good idea. You should be happy here.
[That actually surprises him to hear.] They taught it at your school? Summoning was taught by my clan... but then I reached the age for high school, there are some that all summoners in the area get sent to. Other than the administration being aware of our positions, it was just another school.
[He's trying to imagine going to a separate school for summoners, which is a lovely thought. But there wasn't enough of them, all at different ages. Though it was nice having Seimei there for awhile... He exhales quietly at that thought before looking back to Yuji.]
I'll consider it. It's a good idea, I think. [The idea of being happy here seemed so far off. Could he ever be happy taken so far from his work? Being someone or something new? He wasn't sure, but he tries to give Yuji a reassuring smile. It's only somewhat successful.]
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He also has such a hard time with Yuji's earnestness and compliments. He looks away shyly.]
I-I've been training for it my whole life, so...
[He needs to find a way to deflect. He shoots a glance at Yuji.]
You fight curses, yes? Is that something you've done a long time?
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[ Yuji gives the compliments freely, and he doesn't think about the emotional impact. He leans back, thumb absently stroking against Raidou's skin as he lets himself think. ]
Curses? Only for a few months. It was after I ate the finger that I learned about that whole world.
[ His hand stills as he realises what he's been doing, and then he huffs a little noise. ]
I bet I sound like an old-timer when I talk about it though, right?
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Just keep asking questions, that's the way to go.]
Only a few months? Really? [That really does surprise him. So does the comment about eating a finger? That's a new one on him.]
A... a finger, though?
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[ Yuji isn't paying any attention to Raidou getting embarrassed or having any kind of reaction, he's just happy to be here and help. ]
That's how I got cursed energy. I ate the finger of Ryomen Sukuna.
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I see. [He thinks.] So this, ah, finger, gave you the ability to work with curses.
[A pause as he looks a little bewildered, turning to Yuji again.]
Why did you have to eat it?
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[ Which all sounds totally fine and normal to him, but he appreciates that other people might think he sounds a little bit insane. Which... Fair.
Shrugging a little, he shakes his head. ]
If I didn't eat it, a curse would have, and that would've been worse.
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But you ate it, and... didn't become a curse. Just gave you the ability to use their magic-- ah, their energy?
[Alright. Makes sense, he supposes. "The more of them I eat", though...]
So you've eaten... multiple fingers. [Gnarly.]
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That's right. I became his vessel, so normally he's inside me and if I'm not super careful he can take over. He hasn't been around since I was brought here, though.
[ Ah, well. Fushiguro said not to worry too much, but... ]
Oh, I think it's like... Fifteen or something now.
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Fifteen? How many fingers does this man have... [Very gnarly.]
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[ Yuji doesn't even like knowing he's had fifteen, but... ]
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Only five more fingers to eat, then. Lovely.
[Look who's already starting to feel better. Maybe it's hard to tell when he's pale normally, and quiet, but at least he seems a little more animated.]
Can I ask... Is there a way for someone to do what you do that doesn't involve eating cursed objects? Ah, us summoners, you have to be born with the ability. Not anyone can do it.
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[ But he doesn't want to dwell on that, and he shakes his head a little before he focuses. ]
Well, people are born with cursed techniques. Sometimes you might be able to use a cursed object, but having cursed energy makes it better, easier. There was a thing, recently, that 'awoke' other people, but that's not something you'd want to do voluntarily.
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"Cursed energy"... I guess it's similar to us. Mag, we call it. It's what gives people the ability to cast magic. Strange how these things translate from world to world...
[Another thought strikes him.] This world doesn't seem to have demons. While I wish mine had come along with me... maybe it's best they didn't.
[Was that why LILITH didn't? Would it be causing a whole new problem in this world?]
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[ Yuji has to cling to that, keep the belief together, because if he doesn't then that might be the end. He can't permit himself to fall apart, not when they're so close. ]
Are they a part of you? Or is it some kind of agreement?
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[So they can get places he can't. Makes investigations a breeze.]
They would be very useful here, but maybe it's not a good idea to introduce demons into a place that doesn't seem to have them.
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[ Even if it would make sense - curses are formed from negative emotions, and with all the awful stuff going on here... ]
Do you think they'll let you have them back, if you asked?
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[He might just need to figure out what life is supposed to be for a summoner who can no longer summon. It's been something on his mind a lot since he arrived. Perhaps considering what happened to him at home right before arriving here, he shouldn't be a summoner anymore anyway...
He sighs lightly at that thought.]
Perhaps I need to figure out a new path for my life. Whatever that might be. Still a defender of people, if nothing else.
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[ Yuji hasn't had any limitations since coming here, and has thrown himself into the deep end, so to speak. He would do anything to help people, he knows that, but... Maybe he could be a little more careful in future. ]
That's what I want to do, too. All I ever wanted was to protect people.
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Raidou nods in agreement.]
My situation is different, but my goal is not. That's why I did this. If not a summoner... maybe a healer, then.
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[ Yuji is going to keep getting lectured, he knows that, but at least he can have a good reason for it all. ]
I've always been really strong. Being able to use that to help people was always what I wanted.
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They put me in school. Third year, so I already graduate in the spring. Ah, LILITH said it was an effort to help get me "caught up". [It sounds embarrassing to say, though. Like being stuck in remedial classes on life. But even back home, Raidou missed a lot of school thanks to his work, and now here he has 350 years of history and life to catch up. Not to mention a whole lot of socialization.]
Other students keep asking me what I plan to do after graduation, and I don't know what to tell them.
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[ He hasn't done lessons for months, thanks to Shibuya and then the Culling Game... Not that he necessarily wants to go back to learning, but it might be nice to feel normal again. ]
Tell them you're gonna come join me! You can be a firefighter medic or something.
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[Raidou shakes his head. He really does not like school here. Sitting around all day having lessons blasted right into your implants? No thanks. Thankfully he was almost done.
He also thinks that idea over for a moment, nodding.]
That might not be a bad idea. I hadn't considered it. Ah, back home, my cover for summoner work was as a junior detective. I thought that might be an option, too. Ah, and the people at the shrine told me I'm always welcome there full time...
[That's no easy task though. Who'd have time to study for priesthood when they've got kaiju to fight?]
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[ If Raidou was supposed to be training to fight with - for? against? - demons then they're not that different, really, are they? Maybe this is why they get along so well.
It seems like he's got a lot of options, though. ]
I'll put in a good word for you if you wanted it, which I don't think we need, if they give us our identities, but... Whatever you want to do sounds like a good idea. You should be happy here.
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[He's trying to imagine going to a separate school for summoners, which is a lovely thought. But there wasn't enough of them, all at different ages. Though it was nice having Seimei there for awhile... He exhales quietly at that thought before looking back to Yuji.]
I'll consider it. It's a good idea, I think. [The idea of being happy here seemed so far off. Could he ever be happy taken so far from his work? Being someone or something new? He wasn't sure, but he tries to give Yuji a reassuring smile. It's only somewhat successful.]
Are you happy here?
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